Nike Zoom Lebron IV

Down With The King

Simply speaking..Lebron James is a beast.At 6'8 250 pounds in terms of being a pure athlete he has few peers.Nike decided to go back to the future with the Zoom Lebron IV.The shoe was partly inspired by the Nike Foamposite One.It marked the return of Foamposite technology after being missing for a few years.For those who aren't versed in Foamposite technology it's a single piece of molded polyurethane that allows Nike to create an upper that offers total support and molds to your foot.Rather than sewing or gluing pieces of material together the single molded piece offers superior support against any other shoe upper on the market.Unfortunately to create a Foamposite based shoe requires molds to make the shoe making it expensive to produce which dramatically increases the retail price.The original Nike Foamposite One retailed for $180.00 which at the time was unheard of.The technology enjoys a small "cult" status in the eyes of many shoe collectors due to it's progressive and futuristic styling.Using Foamposite tech on Lebron's signature was an excellent pairing due to the fact that the material does not stretch.With the tremendous stress Lebron puts on his feet the foamposite material keeps his feet where they need to be and offers unparalleled support while fitting like a glove.

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you can see the similarities between the two shoes as well as how much design has progressed over nearly 10 years since the Foamposite One was released.

The shoe features a dynamic fit sleeve which provides seamless comfort and support as well as moisture management properties.Landings are softened by a full length zoom air which provide excellent cushioning but doesn't feel as low to the ground or as responsive as the Zoom Kobe 2 but nevertheless the cushioning is still excellent.That comparison would be like comparing the ride in a high performance sports car versus an SUV.

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here is the zoom air insole.It is thicker than any previous zoom air insole and may not be as thin as previous versions but provides excellent cushioning.

The outsole is Nike Free inspired for maximum flexibility.It is aided by a 3/4 length carbon fiber spring plate which allows for excellent heel-toe transition.The herringbone pattern is segmented to compliment the outsole for maximum flexibility.The composite rubber what makes up the outsole performs extremely well on all surfaces.Traction on the shoe is top notch due to the composite rubber as well as the surface area of the outsole.

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notice the beautiful flowing lines even on the outsole that is echoed throughout the shoe

To further add to the support of the foamposite upper the shoe also sports an ankle strap to further lock down the foot as well as 3 elastic straps that run down the front of the shoe.In previous versions of foamposite based shoes rather than three straps it has normally been a zipper enclosure of some sort to truly pull the single piece of foamposite together and keep it fitting like a glove.I like the application unfortunately it doesn't really allow you to get to the shoe laces.To ensure the shoe completely supports the wearer's foot,large phylon supports run along the lateral and medial sides of the shoe cradling the foot to ensure the foot stays in place during hard cuts or changes of direction.

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note the "witness" detailing on the heel as well as the large heel counter making the shoe extremely stable when coupled with the foamposite and carbon fiber spring plate.

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note the three elastic straps that pulls the shoe together to provide excellent support.

Overall from top to bottom the shoe is a dream to play in...well actually after about three times wearing the shoe it's a dream to play in.Foamposite material is extremely stiff.For those of us with feet that are a bit on the wider side,to put it bluntly,they hurt like hell the first couple of times you wear them to play in.My pinky toe literally felt like I had fractured a bone in my foot after the first time playing in the shoe.But the same can be said of all foamposite based shoes.It definitely isn't something you pull out the box straight from the store.The other complaint others will have is the weight.Aside from the flightposites all Foamposite based shoes have been heavy.For whatever reason its an issue to some but not to others.The overall design is also a little bulky for some people's tastes but the shoe was designed to support a man who is 6'8 250 pounds.

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The lines on the shoe are beautiful and is well on it's way to being a classic

Comfort and Fit-4/5
Cushioning-5/5
Ankle Support-4.5/5
Traction-5/5
Overall-4.5/5

The shoe receives top grades in all categories but lost points on comfort and fit for the discomfort felt during the break in period and being a tad bit on the heavy side.The shoe is an awesome performer and should at least be considered with the top performance shoes of this generation.